The Permian Extinction
by J.D. AdamsJanuary 10th, 2007 at 20:19:50
What, you may ask, is the Permian Extinction, and why should you know about it? The Permian Extinction, also known as the Permian-Triassic Extinction, was the most catastrophic extinction event in the geologic history of planet Earth, and one in which recent discoveries have implicated global warming as one of the factors involved. The present theory of the Permian-Triassic (PT) Extinction event, although controversial, is that a succession of global events was responsible, so please do not be alarmed, as it is highly unlikely that it could be repeated. The PT Extinction, occurring about 248 million years ago at the boundary between the Permian and Triassic periods, involved the disappearance of 70% of land-based life, and 95% of marine life forms. It eclipses the better-known End Cretaceous Extinction that ended the reign of the dinosaurs (mentioned in Lloyd Gordon’s previous informative blog). Since the discovery of the Chicxulub Crater within the Yucatan Peninsula in the 1990’s, it has been known that the End Cretaceous Extinction was caused by the impact of a meteor about 6 miles wide. In 2006, a huge meteor impact crater, 300 miles across, was discovered in a region of East Antarctica. Estimates of the meteors size range up to 30 miles wide. Geologic analysis puts the impact within the PT Extinction time frame.
The ultimate cause of the PT Extinction is still debated, with several theories proposed, all with supporting evidence. Extreme volcanism that is known to have occurred at the end of the Permian, in the form of Flood Basalt eruptions in Siberia, is one of the better-supported possibilities. The potential of these eruptions to alter global climate is a convoluted story. Overall it consisted of an upwelling of lava on a huge scale, and being pyroclastic and explosive in nature, it resulted in tremendous amounts of ash and outgassing. The differing time scales of these materials resulted in a rapid fluctuation in climate. First, sulfur compounds and ash darkened the atmosphere, resulting in a decrease in global temperature, an increase in glaciation, and a drop in sea level. But greenhouse gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane were also produced. These gases have longevity in the atmosphere on the order of millions of years, so in the long run the global temperature was increased. It is this particular aspect that humankind has stumbled onto with the reduction of green space.
Global warming can also accelerate through a process of methane hydrate gasification of frozen deposits on the sea floor. Calculations indicate an increase of 10 degrees F in seawater could cause the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. According to the Wikipedia article on the Permian Extinction I referenced, this release of methane would create a further increase in average global temperature of 10 degrees F, dooming the majority of Earth’s life forms.
To be complete, the Permian Extinction has also been blamed on the characteristics of the primordial supercontinent Pangea, a supernova, buildup of hydrogen sulfide, and the Milankovich Cycle. The latter is based on irregularities of the Earth’s orbit that produce cycles of 26,000, 42,000, and 100,000 years that affect patterns of glaciation. One or more of these events started global warming and ultimately the melting of methane hydrate.
What started me on this train of thought was an excellent book I checked out called ‘Hiking Oregon’s Geology’, by Ellen Morris Bishop. In the introduction, a passing reference is made to the global warming of the Permian period, with normal daytime highs of 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The author points out the irrefutable nature of the geologic record, etched in stone like the Ten Commandments.
Oregon’s 74th legislative session started off with bang on January 8th, 2007. I was proud to hear Governor Ted Kulongoski’s inaugural speech highlighting Oregon’s commitment to alternative energy. Where we clear the trail, the world can follow.
January 20th, 2007 at 11:28 am
As it is obvious that the area is trending toward the alternative fuel and power edge, what is counter to this trend is the raising of the costs for an alternative heating and power source, namely, geothermal. As the land masses go about their happy way, moving over points in the crust that give us the geothermal capacities, the local governments are being counter to using this source by raising the cost of usage to a point of being out of reach financially. Rather than raise the rates, the State, at the local levels should be lowering the rates in an effort to attract infrastructure business to support the influx of baby boomer retirees and their ability to bring new business to area’s needing a source of labor. As a retired person, I am not prone to sitting about, listening to my arteries harden. I am going to start a small business and hope to be able to attract some of the labor available at OIT. It will help the economy; put a few bucks in some student’s pockets, thus making the effort of going to college a bit more bearable. Because I am out of reach of the geothermal pipeline, I am going to go solar for my power needs. They can’t raise to cost of the sun. This also won’t add to the global greenhouse effects caused by using fossil fuel. For my transportation needs, I will make my own Biodiesel. Again, I am going to attempt to cut down on the overhead gasses and costs. Why am I doing this? Because of the potential for mass extinction. Not from impacts, or tectonics, but just living here irresponsibly.
January 21st, 2007 at 10:56 am
Responding to Mr. Beckman:
On geothermal. I was somewhat involved with a geothermal development in SW Utah back in the 70s — I was the environmental spokesperson for the area. Geothermal was very young then, at least in this country, and the only parallel situation to watch was the area north of San Fransisco. There was a problem with that geothermal development — extremely toxic materials came up in the hot water, and something significant had to be done with the waste water coming out of the plant.
In Utah we waited anxiously for the lab test results on what was coming up out of the wells. The results came in. Praise the lord, it was splendid stuff, of great potential to agricultruual interests in the area. Potato farmers, if memory serves.
As for a pipeline, the generating plant sits virutually on topo of thegeothermal well to gain maximum benefit from the rather low level heat. The pipelines necessarily are electrical transmission lines, and what comes down the wire is a mix of every kind of generating unit attached.
You’re right about solar. And, my friend, insist on insulation.
January 21st, 2007 at 3:26 pm
More (alternative) power to you, Mr. Beckman!
Here is some related information that you may be aware of from a July 2006 blog on fuel cell research:
The Oregon Institute of Technology has long been a pioneer in sustainable energy. It is the only totally geothermally heated campus in the United States, and home to the Oregon Renewable Energy Center. At OREC ongoing research delves into solar energy, fuel cells, biomass and wind power. You can link to one of OREC’s projects at the end of this blog. OIT also introduced the only Bachelor of Science in Renewable Energy Systems offered in North America. RES 201, Introduction to Renewable Energy, will be offered online this fall 2006.
The Oregon State Public Interest Research Group website, OSPIRG.org, is another good resource.
January 31st, 2007 at 10:50 am
Changing energy sources is a decent short-term measure, but as long as we insist on more overall energy and fail to attribute costs via energy-based taxes, the long term future is the same. Implementing a $3/gallon gas tax over five years would be a good start.
BTW, Here are three excellent references on the End-Permian extinction:
“Extinction: How Life on Earth Nearly Ended 250 Million Years Ago” by Douglas Erwin (ISBN 0-691-00524-9) Princeton University Press 2006
“When Life Nearly Died: The Greatest Mass Extinction of All Time” by Michael Benton (ISBN 0-500-05116-x) Thames & Hudson 2003
“Gorgon: Paleontology, Obsession, and the Greatest Catastrophe in Earth’s History” by Peter Ward (ISBN 0-670-03094-5) Viking 2004
January 31st, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Replying to Tom:
Energy conservation is definitely part of the solution, along with new technologies. In a recent Discovery Channel presentation on the future in the year 2057, radical designs for solar cells were discussed, using nano-crystals of different materials instead of silicon. Standard solar cells only respond to a certain wavelength of sunlight, and are therefore limited in efficiency. The nano-crystals utilize a broad spectrum of light, achieving efficiency of well over 50% that is required for practical applications.
But to get back to the topic of global warming, how about a hypothetical book by Michael Crichton: The GWB Extinction, How an Administration Nearly Killed Planet Earth!
January 21st, 2008 at 5:32 pm
[...] a final climatic lurch like the Permian Extinction, methane hydrate explosions could destroy a majority of life on Earth, as suggested by one [...]